of bridgeport



p 9, 1930. J. M. LUCA RELLE 1,775,204

HEARING TUBE Filed Feb. 24. 1926 IN VEN TOR. JMLMCGIY? k Patented Sept. 9, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH M. LUCARELLE, 0F BBIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO DICTAPHON'E CORPORATION, OF BBIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK HEARING TUBE Application filed February 24, 1926. Serial No. 90,301.

This invention relates to hearing tubes such as are used in conjunction with dictation machines, other phonographs, and sound producing machines, and more particularly to the type of hearing tube which comprises a pair of tubes swiveled together at the place where they are acoustically connected to the sound-conveying tube.

An object of this invention is to produce a device of the kind above specified which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, easy to assemble and efiicient in use.

In attaining this object, the present invention, in its more'specific aspect, provides, on two relatively moving parts of the device, companion bearing surfaces whereby one part may turn on another and have other relative movement, means concealed within the device for holding the parts together in desired relation, and means for holding said first-named means in operative position.

In the preferred form of this invention, the two relatively moving tubes preferably have a ball and socket or like joint with each other, and means are provided for holding the parts of the joint in their certain desired relations against accidental or unintentional movements.

The means for holding the parts of the joint in said predetermined posltion is preferably yielding so as to permit the parts to be dislocated when suilicient force is applied.

The provision of a yielding ball and socket joint is extremely advantageous, for in practice it is not unusual that the person using the hearing tubes in handling them frequently strains the tubes by bending them sidewise so that the ear-engaging parts thereof no longer properly align. But, with the device of the present invention, this improper movement is permitted and the device relocates itself automatically without damaging the parts.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one form of the invention, that at present preferred,

Figure l is a view showing the hearing tubes with the sound-conveying tubes attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In connection with dictation machines, other phonographs, radio receiving devices, surgical instruments such as stethoscopes, and noise and sound-locating'devices used in the mechanical arts, a now prevalent means for transmitting sound from the source to the ears of the listener, comprises a soundconducting tube leading to sound discharging devices located in or at the ears of the listeners, so that very little, if any, sound energy is lost in the transmission. One type of such devices, which has been found extremely eificient, is that employing a pair of rigid or semi-rigid tubes, one for each ear of the listener, and both of which come together at a common point where they are con nected acoustically to the sound-conveying tube. These ear-tubes, in order that they may properly fit the head of diiferent listeners or users, are usually pivoted together in some way to permit the movement of the hearing tubes relative to each other in applying and removing them from the head, and to facilitate fitting them to heads of diiierent persons. This is the type of device to which the present invention more particularly aplies.

p Hence, in the drawing, there is shown a hearing device comprising a pair of rigid or semi-rigid tubes 10 and 11, and these with a tube or nipple 12 adapted to be connected to a sound-conveying tube or pipe 13, form a Y-shaped structure. The terminal or earengaging portions of the tubes 10 and 11 in the drawing, are provided with tips 14 adapted to be inserted bodily in the ears of the user, the tips 14 being provided at their ends with sound-discharging orifices 15. However, it should be distinctly understood that so far as the present invention is concerned, the terminal portions of the tubes may be of other forms if desired. For instance, they may be each cup-shaped and of suflicientsize as to close over the entire ear of the user or a substantial part of it.

In order that the tubes 10 and 11 may 100 25 so that the ear-pieces 14 will no longer be in 40 bearing directly against the no sure of the spring and to permit the ear-engaging portions to be moved toward and from the users ears, the

5 tubes and 11 are, respectively, provided with bearing portions 16 and 17.

In accordance with this invention, these bearing portions are so'formed and fitted as to constitute a ball and socket or like joint,

10 the portion 17 having a bearing'surface 18 constituting the ball, and the portion 16 having a bearing surface 19 constituting the socket. This ball and socket joint 18 and 19 permits tubes 10 and 11 with their hearus ing portions 16 and 17 to have rotary movement about each other as well as bodily or tilting movement of the one relative to the other. The tilting movement is provided for because in practice it is frequent that the 20 person endeavoring to rotate one part about the 'other imparts to the devices tilting movement, and when such movement is not provided for and the force applied is suflicient the tube itself is liable to be bent out of shape alignment with each other. Withthe device of the present invention, however, tilting movement is permitted without damage to the parts, and means are provided for restoring the ball and socket joint to a condition where the ear pieces 15 will be realigned automatically.

The means for holding the ball and socket joint in predetermined position and for realigning the ear tubes should the ball and socket oint be dislocated, preferably comprises a resilient member or spring 20 located within the hollow of the bearing portion 16 of the tube 10, and having one end ball and socket joint 18 or indirectly bear against through a washer 21, which may be provided if desired, and bearing at the other end against a cap or plug 22 screw-threaded in the bearing memher 16 at 23. It will thus be seen that when the cap 22 is applied and the spring 20 is thereby placed under tension, it will tend to force the ball-shaped bearing 18 against the socket-shaped bearing 19, and since this presis applied to substantially all around the edge of the bearing 18, the bearing 17 will thereby be held in predetermined position which is the position in which the ear pieces 15 are in substantial alignment.

The pressure of the spring 20 against the ball-shaped bearing 18 forces the latter against the socket-shaped bearing 19 with sufficient friction to resist unintentional or accidental rotary movement of the one relative to the other.

when assembling the device. Hence, the ear- The cap or plug 22 preferably enters the hollow of the bearing member 16 until the outside edge of the cap is flush with the edge of the bearing member 16. 1

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having now described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which it is desired to obtain Letters Patent, is

1. A hearing device comprisin a pair of connected sound-discharging tu es, means connected to the tubes u on whichsaid tubes may move relatively, and means for securing said tubes together in connected relation and accommodating relative rotary and sidewise movements of the tubes.

2. A hearing device comprising a pair of connected sound-discharging tubes, means connected to the tubes upon which said tubes may move relatively, and means for securing said tubes together in connected relation and accommodating relative rotary and sidewise movements of the tubes, said means acting to cause the return of said tubes to normal position after sidewise movements thereof.

3. A hearing device comprisin a pair of connected sound-discharging tu es, means connected to the tubes upon which said tubes may move relatively, and resilient means for securing said tubes together in connected relation and accommodating relative rotary and sidewise movements of the tubes.

4. A hearing, device comprising a pair of connected sound-discharging tubes, means connected to the tubes upon whichsaid tubes may move relatively, and concealed means for securing said tubes together inconnected relation and accommodating relative rotary and sidewise movements of the tubes.

5. A hearing device comprising a pair of connected sound-discharging tubes, means connected to the tubes upon which said tubes may move relatively, and self-acting concealed means for securing said tubes together in connected relation and accommodating relative rotary and sidewise movements of the tubes.

6. A hearing device comprising a pair of sound-discharging tubes; coacting bearings connected respectively to each of said tubes and accommodating relative movements of said tubes; and means within said bearings for securing said bearings together, but accommodating rotary and sidewise movements of the one relative to the other.

7 A hearing device comprising a pair of sound-discharging tubes; coacting bearings connected respectively to each of said tubes forrelative movements of said tubes and so] factmgmeanswithin said bearings for securmg said bearings together, but accommodating rotary and sidewise movements of the one relative to the other.

8. A hearing device comprising a pair of sound-discharging tubes; coacting bearings connected respectively to each of said tubes for relative movements of said tubes; and resilient means within said bearings for se curing said bearings together, but accommodating rotary and sidewise movements of the one relative to the other.

9. A hearing device comprising a pair of sound discharging tubes; coacting bearings connected respectively to each of said tubes for relative movements of said tubes; and concealed means within said bearings for securing the bearings together, but accommodating rotary and sidewise movements of theone relative to the other.

10. A hearing device comprising a pair of sound-discharging tubes; coacting bearings connected respectively to each of said tubes for relative movements of said tubes; and self-acting concealed means Within said bearings for securing the bearings together, but accommodating rotary movement of the one relative to the other. i

11. A hearing device comprising a pair of sound-discharging tubes; and coacting ball and socket bearings connected respectively to each of said tubes for swiveling movement of said tubes.

12. A hearing device comprising a pair of sound-discharging tubes; coacting ball and socket bearings connected respectively to each of said tubes for rotary and sidewise movements of said tubes, said bearings having normally aligned fiat surfaces facing each other; andmeans simultaneously engaging both of said flat surfaces for yieldingly holding said bearings together in predeterminedrelation.

13. A hearing device comprising a pair of sound-discharging tubes; coacting ball and socket bearings connected respectively to each of said tubes for rotary and sidewise movements of said tubes, said bearings having normally aligned flat surfaces facing each other; and resilient means simultaneously acting upon both of said fiat surfaces for yieldingly holding said bearings together in predetermined relation.

14. A hearing device comprising a pair of sound-discharging tubes; coacting ball and socket bearings connected respectively to each of said tubes for rotary movements of said tubes; a spring located in one of said bearings for yieldingly holding said bearings against any movement; and a screw-cap for maintaining said spring in said bearing.

15. A hearingdevice comprising in combination, a bearing member having an opening therein forming a socket, a second bearing member adapted to coact with said socket to form a ball and socket joint, a sound dis- 1 charge tube connected to said second bearing member and having an earpiece thereon adapted to pass through said socket opening,

a second sound discharge tube connected to said socket forming bearing member, and an earpiece on said second discharge tube.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, this 23rd day of February, 1926. JOSEPH M. LUCARELLE. 

